Assume Eyes Are Watching
There is a saying that when you assume something it can come back to bite you in the butt. With the recent atrocious act that took place in Boston, eyes were everywhere. There are a lot of television shows where crimes are solved very quickly. And you wonder how is that possible?
The apprehension of the two young men who committed the bombings in Boston proved how advanced we are in technology. Eyes were everywhere snapping pictures, taking video of this very important annual event that is considered a holiday in Boston: the world renowned Boston Marathon.
There were spectators and media locally and from all over the world to cover this event because runners from all parts of the world were there to compete.
What made these two young men think that they could get away with this act of terrorism?
In our everyday life when you are out in public you would be alarmed to find out how you are being watched. Even when you are behind closed doors in private, you may be recorded. How many times have hidden cameras been placed in bathrooms and hotel rooms? Too many to count.
In the case of the terrorism act in Boston, thank God that there were pictures and videos which helped in identifying the two young men.
Recently I took a short vacation to visit a friend of mine in Arizona named Jeff. One of the places that we visited was the Titan Missile Museum in Sahuarita, Arizona. This is a national historic landmark. It was the Titan II missile is the largest missile ever built by the United States. During the Cold War, 54 Titan II missiles stood alert in their underground silos all across the country protecting the United States. In 1987, the last Titan II site was deactivated. Only one Titan II site remains.
On this tour we went underground to see how the operations of the facility took place and the heavy security. During the tour, we always had one of the employees at the very end of the last person to make sure that no one was left behind after the tour. The tour guide also asked us if we noticed all the cameras that were in place. I personally did not, but he said that they were all over the facility.
In another editorial, I mentioned how having a camera help me recover items that I misplaced while shopping at a local supermarket. I was fortunate that they had me on camera and showed that I had left the bag there by accident.
I also noticed that some of my advertisers have cameras that not only show what’s going on inside their place of business but the surrounding areas on the outside as well.
Who can forget the horrible story that happened in New York about a year ago where a little boy was kidnapped and unfortunately murdered? Cameras showed a complete stranger walking with the little boy.
I believe that posters were put up showing the man who was last seen with the little boy. People in the neighborhood recognized the man and that’s how the police were able to apprehend him.
So whenever people complain about the invasion of cameras in our lives, just remember sometimes those cameras will be your protector or the protector of one of your loved ones. If I am out in public and cameras are present, it really doesn’t bother me if I know they are there to protect me. To those who may be thinking of doing something unlawful or harmful to others, put it in the back of your mind that eyes may be watching.
C.M.
